Is teaching swimming one of the happiest jobs in the UK?
Swimming teachers across England have every reason to smile this soggy January according to a new survey by the Institute of Swimming, which revealed 99% of its members say their job makes them happy
Ready to stop dreading Mondays? Why not swap your desk for the pool? It could be the ideal career move for 2026, as further standout results also demonstrate the positive impact of being a swimming teacher, with 90% making friends with colleagues and 81% reporting their job helped with their overall wellbeing and sense of community.
This feeling of wellness is particularly acute among younger age groups, with 87% of 16–18-year-olds and 90% of 19–25-year-olds reporting that teaching has helped with their overall wellbeing, including their self-esteem, mental health and confidence, highlighting the role of swimming teaching as an ideal first-career opportunity.
Rebecca Cox is Managing Director of the Institute of Swimming, the largest provider of Swim England Qualifications. She says: “These findings tell us that teaching swimming delivers exceptional happiness, flexibility and fulfilment. In fact, it might be the happiest career in England! The excellent job satisfaction is reported consistently by teachers all over the country, spanning every age group from 16 to retirement and beyond, and found equally among both men and women.”
Teaching swimming provides flexible working patterns that can accommodate caring responsibilities, can suit students balancing education with employment and can support those looking for a side hustle or wanting an active and rewarding retirement option. The role combines well-paid, often part-time work with the satisfaction of teaching a life-saving skill. Plus, you can qualify from the age of 16, with no upward age restriction.
Cox continues: “The survey findings come at a time when many people are seeking careers that offer more than just a salary. Swimming teachers hold a special place in our communities, supporting people of all ages to find confidence in the water and learn skills that could one day save their life. The results from our survey demonstrate it is possible to find a job that brings genuine happiness and fulfilment to your life.”
Richard (pictured left), 55, combines his full-time management job with teaching swimming a couple of evenings a week. He explains: “There’s no business pressure at the pool. Instead, there’s the profound satisfaction of watching a child transform from someone who insists they can’t do something, that it’s too scary or too difficult, to a child who has not only mastered that skill but can be reminded of their own capacity for growth. I always remind the children where they started and ask them to consider what else in their lives they might approach with that same knowledge. I want to give my learners the foundations to dream of what is possible.”
What Richard didn’t anticipate was just how much the pool would give back to him when he needed it most. In January of last year he was diagnosed with kidney cancer. The tumour was stage two, low grade and non-aggressive, but it required major surgery.
Throughout his recovery, cards and gifts flooded in from the children he taught and their families. Hundreds upon hundreds of them. Richard says: “I was so touched. I missed teaching swimming. I knew how happy the job made me and I was determined to get back to my learners as soon as possible. Six weeks to the day after surgery, I taught my first lesson. It was great to be back, it felt like coming home. It’s when I’m teaching that I find purpose. As a swimming teacher I can be the person I want to be. It’s at the pool where I receive as much as I give.”
As many people reflect on their New Year resolutions and consider fresh career starts, the Institute of Swimming’s survey highlights that being a swimming teacher delivers genuine job satisfaction alongside practical benefits that fit into modern lifestyles.
And what does our editor Ella say, who also happens to be a swim coach?
“Helping transform someone’s relationship with the water is rewarding in many ways, but essentially being able to unlock the benefits of swimming that will have a positive impact for a lifetime is like nothing else,” says Ella.
Feeling inspired? Find out more about dream swimming jobs in our Swim Careers issue
Outdoor Swimmer
Outdoor Swimmer is the magazine for outdoor swimmers by outdoor swimmers. We write about fabulous wild swimming locations, amazing swim challenges, swim training advice and swimming gear reviews.
